Best UK Camping Festivals: Your Guide to Music, Family Fun & Wild Countryside
The UK has a long and proud tradition of pitching a tent, cracking open a folding chair, and losing yourself in a weekend of live music under an open sky. From Somerset farmland to the Brecon Beacons, the best UK camping festivals combine mesmerising performances, outdoor adventure, and the kind of picturesque countryside settings that make the whole trip feel like an escape rather than just a gig. Whether you’re a festival veteran or planning your first canvas-and-wellies weekend, here are four of the UK’s top camping festivals worth building a summer trip around.
Glastonbury Festival
No list of UK camping festivals is complete without Glastonbury. Held at Worthy Farm in the heart of Somerset, it’s arguably the most iconic festival in the country — five days of music, art, and cultural chaos across dozens of stages. Worth knowing before you plan: Glastonbury takes a scheduled “fallow year” roughly every five years to let Worthy Farm’s land recover, and 2026 is one of those years. The festival returns 23–27 June 2027, so if you’re setting your sights on Worthy Farm, that’s the date to plan your camping trip around. Ticket registration typically opens the autumn before, so it’s worth getting on the mailing list early.
Camp Bestival
Camp Bestival is the pick for families. Set on the grounds of Lulworth Castle in Dorset, it pairs an eclectic music, comedy, and theatre line-up with genuinely well-thought-out family programming — wellness workshops, craft sessions, and adventure zones that keep kids entertained while parents still get their festival fix. The castle backdrop also makes it a natural fit if you’re already planning your summer around heritage sites, not just headline acts.
Latitude Festival
Tucked into the Suffolk countryside, Latitude is the festival for people who want more than just music. Alongside a strong line-up, it runs a full programme of literary talks, theatre, and art installations, all set in a noticeably calmer, greener atmosphere than some of the bigger festivals. Camping options range from standard pitches to proper glamping, so it’s a good option whether you’re travelling light or want a bit more comfort on site.
The Green Man Festival
Set in the Brecon Beacons in Wales, Green Man blends music with science and nature in a way that attracts a genuinely broad crowd — from die-hard music fans to families and outdoor enthusiasts. It has one of the friendliest, most inclusive atmospheres of any UK festival, and camping options now include family zones and eco-conscious pitches for anyone who wants to keep their footprint light.
Plan Your Summer Around It
With festivals like these on offer, a UK summer built around music, camping, and a bit of countryside adventure is easy to plan and hard to beat. Pair a festival weekend with a few extra nights nearby and you’ve got the makings of a proper heritage-and-camping road trip — check out our guide to Camping Near UK Castles for ideas on where to pitch up before or after the show.
